Expansion of B.C. natural gas industry raises concerns

Premier Clark's proposes LNG exports could pay down provincial debt

A liquefied natural gas tanker arrives at Sodegaura city in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo in 2009. The B.C. government announced a plan to collect revenues from LNG exports to Asia to pay down debt and reduce or eliminate the provincial sales tax. (STR/AFP/Getty )

But not everyone thinks the scheme is viable. Opposition parties say the Liberal's plan to pay down the province's $56 billion debt using revenues from gas exports to Asia is wishful thinking.

NDP Leader Adrian Dix said It will be at least 2015 or 2016 before the first liquid natural gas export terminal is up and running on B.C.'s coast, and it could take years after that for the industry to hit its stride.

Independent Cariboo MLA Bob Simpson says the government's plan to generate hundreds of billions in revenue from the exports sounds great, but ignores the many environmental risks associated with increasing gas drilling.

"We have to pollute, permanently, trillions of litres of fresh water every year to achieve that; fragment the land base the likes of which we've never seen; put people's health and safety at risk. None of the environmental implications of this economic strategy were addressed in the throne speech."

Simpson says the plan would also cause the government to miss its own greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Environmental concerns

The process of "fracking" uses large amounts of fresh water.

The waste water must be treated at facilities that critics say are not always equipped to remove the contaminants.

The chemicals used during fracking can contaminate groundwater.

Some people living near fracking wells have complained of noxious fumes they say cause headaches and other symptoms.